Means for playing on the keyboards of musical instruments



Oct. l2 1926. 1,602,867

D. TALMAGE MEANS FOR PLAYING 0N THE KEYBOARDS 0F MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Sept. 2.3-, 1924 2 Sheets-Shabat 1 l 5.9"/ 5 l l 76 W /f 1 y1 /z j Zz f7 l i BASS INDICATOR CHART ow roms AT HOME ATTORNEYS,

ocr. 112 192s. 1,602,861

'g 'D. TALMAGE MEANS FOR PLAYING 0N THE KEYBOARDS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Sept. 23. 1924 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'fd Y a .1 x *L-IfIff/ITI I I I II I I \\I I I I I I I I I I I ,I I I I BY AIM ATToRNEI/.S

Patented Oct. l2, 1926.

UNITED STATES DAVID TALMAGE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR PLAYING ON THE KEYBOARDS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application mea september 2s, 1924. seriai No. 739,274.

In one aspect, my kinvention relates to a device for playing on the keyboard of a musical instrument, such as a piano, which may be used by anyone either with or without technical musical knowledge or training, to improvise original solos and also to improvise accompaniments to songs or instrumental selections.

In another aspect, my invention provides in conjunction with-the said device, means affording to the operator of the said device an indication of the `way in which the device should be manipulated to secure the desired results.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the specification and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the keyboard of a musical instrument, such as a pia-no, with means embodyingr my invention associated therewith; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the manuali operated device in a different position with relation to the keyboard from that illustratedy in Fig. 1:, Fig. 3 is a plan view of an :indicator chart which may be placed on the keyboard in accordance with my invention; F ig. 4 is a plan view of a song chart which may also e used as part of my invention; Fig. 5 is a detail View illustrating one of the fingers adjustably held in position in the frame of the device; Fig. 6 is a detail view of a modified form ,of the device wherein the frame is collapsible, and Fig. 7 is an end view of said device.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 and 2, 10 is an arm or bar made of any suitable material, such as wood, metal, rubber or the like, and of any desired contour and cross section, here shown as square. The bar 10 is adapted to be held and manipuleted by the operator, either with one or both hands. Thel bar maybe made of any desired length; for example it may be so short las to embrace only the tones. within the compass of the musical triad intervals formed by chord root, third and fifth in closest succession, etc., or long enough to embrace all or any of the tones of the same tried, repeated and-distributed, as desired,

in as many octaves as the lengt-h of the keyboard of the instrument will permit. In the particular embodiment of my invention il- .ustrated, the bar 10 is provided with a plurality of fingers or hammers, here illustrated as seven in number, preferably projecting at rightangles from the bar 10, and indicate-d at 1,1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 yand 17, respectively. These fingers are preferably arranged in substantially the same plane, and so project from the bar 1() that when the latter is held in the correct position for playing on the keyboard., the fingers extend downwardly from the bar towards the keyboard, so that when the bar is depressed, either by moving` it parallel to itself towards the keyboard, or by rocking the same, the fingers may be brought into engagement with the keys and act as plungers to depress the same and produce the desired tones.

One of the fingers 11, which I shall term the bass finding finger, is preferably of a different character from the other fingers, and in the embodiment illustrated is shorter than any of the other fingers, and is preferably attached to the bar near one end thereof. The remaining finger or fingers are spaced from the bass finder so as to depress desired keys on the keyboard when the device is properly manipulated either by rocking the same lor moving the bar 10 parallel to itself. In the embodiment illustrated, these six fingers are arranged in groups, and here illustrated. as three groups, which I have indicated generally at 18, 19 and 20, with two fingers in each group, although it will, of course, be understood that the grouping may be differently arranged and, in fact, other fingers could be inserted. In the particular embodiment illustrated, each group comprises two fingers, the group 18 comprising the fingers 12 and 13, the group 19, the fingers 14 and 15, which are prefer'- ably longer than the fingers 12 and 13, and the group 20, the fingers 16 and 17, the finger 16 preferably being of substantially Ithe same `length as the fingers 1a and 15, while the finger 17 is somewhat shorter. All of the fingers of the three groups are kpreferably relatively long as compared with the bass finder, the fingers of each group being so spaced apart as to produce tones harmoniously related when the said fingers depress keys of said keyboard. In the form illustrated, when the bass finding finger 11 depresses a given key Cil of the keyboard. for example. the key C of the'C major scale. then the musical interval from the tone produced by the key (l to that which is produced by the key which is depressed by linger l) is a maior tenth. from l2 'to lli a minoil third, trom l?) to ll a maior six. from ld to a minor third. troni l to lli' a perfect fourth. and from lli to li' a major third.

Each of the fingers is preferably provided with tip 2l formed of suitable yieldingl material. such as rubber, in order better Jvo simulate the action ot the tips ofthe ling of the human hand.

An additional linger is also preferably provided. which also preferably projects at right-angles from the arm or ha" i0. but in a ditlrent plane from the rei'naining tin- `eers and for a purpose. which will hereiir after appear.

in Fie'. 5. l have illustrated a niodilied form of linger. which adjustable with reference to the har lll, in which it mounted. the linger preferably beine screw-threaded. as at "/"l, for at least a portion of its length, the. screw-threads engaging` corresponding screw-llirezuls formed on the interior of the openinol 2lin the bar l0. through which the liueer passes. It will. of course. be understood that all or any of the lingers may be made adjustable. lt will, of course. be nuderstt'iod that whether the tingers are ad instable or lixed with reference to the bai` lll` they are preferably readily detachable to facilitate disa-enibly ot the device for purposes of pack .ln Fig'. (i. l have shown a further nuiditication of my invention wherein the bar l()a is made collapsible. in order further to facilitate packing# the device. In the form here illustrated. the bar lltL is formed oi' a plurality of sections. here shown as two in number. lll" and l0, respectively. one of the 's ctions. such as l()b preferably being provided at one end with a ferrule which telescopically received in a suitable socket 2G. secured on the end of the other section 'l'he operation or device will readily manipulation of the said be understood from the foregoing' description as follows: Assumethat the device is to be used in conjunction with the white keys of the keyboard, in which case it is keptl in a plane substantially parallel to the front of the instrument, as illustrated in Fie. l. By tilting the device so that the left hand end thereof is lower than the other end. as illustrated in Fig. l. the comparatively short bass lindinggr linger ll caused to depress a key of the keyboard to produce the desired bass tone. The bass tone determines the chord which is to be produced bv the remainingr lingers. By suitably manipulatingT the said device. one or more other tones can also he produced harmoniously related to the bass tone. For exzunple7 after the bass ione is lstruck by the linger l1. tilting' the device the linger l' may be caused to depress a key and produce a tone separated from the bass lone by the musical interval of a tenth. so that the lwo tones are harmoniously related and prmlucc a chord interval. Usually. howevtu'. a plurality of keys are depressed lo produce a full chord. This may be done merely by bringing both lingers l2 and li ofthe lgroup 1S into engagement with lwo keys. so that these two keys. together with the. key depressed by the bass linder ll will produce a musical triad. The remaining lingers lV-il. l5. lli and li' are preferably so arranged as to produce repetitions of the tones ol'v the triad in a higher octave or actaves. the tone yproduced by the bass findingr lineger beine' the funtjlamental tone of the chord produced by the remaininrr lingers. Obviously. by suitably manipulating the device. the chord can be produced in dillerent crunbinations and positions. For example. after the two lingers l2 and l have depressed the lwo correspondinokeys of the keyboard. which will be the keys lil and (il when the bass finder ll has don-assed the key C. then bj.' further tilting the device. the two fingers ll and l5 may be made to depress the keys ld and (i, an octave above the keys depressed by the lingers l2 :ind 13. By still further tilting' the device. the tine'ers 16 and 1T will depress the keys C and E of thel keyboard. the key E bein;r located an octive above the key depressed by the linger lil. Obviously the tiltingl movement of the device may he reversed. thereby repeatingT thel chords in any desired manner. It will. of course. be understood that after the bass tone has been played, the bar may be moved parallel to itself. thereby causingr the remaininglingers simultaneously to depressv corresiiondine keys.

By slantinev the device with respect to the front of the musical instrument with which it is used. both the white keys and the black keys can be used. For example. the bass findingr finger 11 may be brought into engagement with the white key, such as D. as illustrated in Fig. 2. and the modu latine" linger l2 will then depress a black kev.

The device may be used by an operator possessingr little musical skill. it being neces` sary for him only to select the correct bass tones, and this ability is usually quickly acquired. In accordance with my invention, however. means are preferably provided for affording to those, either with or without musical skill or training. an indication ofthe manner in which the device is to be used. In Figs. l. 2 and 3 are illustrated what I shall term a bass indicator chart. which I have indicated generally at 27. The chart may be made from cardboard or other suitable material, and is provided with projecting fingers 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and r33, the successive fingers being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the width of the black keys of the keyboard, so that when the chart is placed in position with the black `keys received in the spaces between the said fingers. the fingers will lie over the white keys of the keyboard. The projecting fingers are suitably designated to represent the tones of the underlying keys of the keyboard of the C scale, showing the seven tones ofthe C major scale. For this purpose, the fingers 28 and 29 arepreferably designated 1 and 2, the .finger 30, which overlies the two keys E and F of the keyboard is designated 3, 4, the character 3 designating the left-hand portion of the finger, and the character 4 designating thel right-hand portion thereof, vwhile the fingers 31, 32 and 33 are designated by the characters 5, 6 and 7, respectively. In the arrangement illustrated, the fingers 28 and 33 are preferably of a width to overlie two keys of the keyboard, it being understood that the left-hand portion of the finger 2S which is designated and the righthand portion of the finger 33 Which is designated are merely repetitions in another octave of fingers already described. In .use

the rearportion of the chart is bent upwardly along the line 34, drawn along the rear edges of said spaces. Preferably the chart is also provided with characters designating the black keys, as illustrated.

In accordance with my invention, song charts, indicated generally at 35 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4) are provided, on which are written the words of a song, certain words of which are preceded by numbers which correspond to numbers .on the bass indicator chart, and which indicate the tones to be played by the bass finding finger of the said device. For example, in Fig. 4 is illustrated in a fragmentary way, a song chart arranged for the song Old Folks at Home.

In playing the accompaniment for the first words lVay Down Upon the Swanee, the operator would strike the bass finding finger 11 against the key underlying the portion of the projecting finger on the bass indicating chart 27 which underlies the projecting finger 28 of said chart, and which is designated as 1. The operator would then tilt the device to play a chord or chords in the manner above described, and to produce a desired rhythm, the chord being continued until the next number on the song chart is reached. Referring again to the song chart, after the accompaniment has been played for the Words Way Down Upon the Swanee. the operator strikes the key underlying the right-hand portion of the nger 30, which is designated 4 with thc b-ass Ending finger 11. 'Ihis process is repeated in playing an entire selection.

The melody finder finger is used merely for the purpose of playing the tones of a melody, the operation of which is alternated with the operation of the entire device as heretofore described.

The ma]wally-operated device embodying my invention may be manipulated in numerous ways, in order to produce the desired fundamental tones and chords harmoniously related thereto. As stated, the device may be used only on the white keys, in which case it is held in a plane substantially parallel with the front of the musical instrunient. The device may also be held parallel to the front of the instrument, all the fingers being located above the black keys, or above the black and white keys, according to the tone played by the bass .finding finger. Again the device may be held in a slanted position with the bass finding finger on a. white key and the modulating finger 12 on a black key, or with the bass finding finger on a white key, the modulating finger 12 on a black key, and the adjacent finger 13 also engaging a black key. The device may also be held in Va slanted position with the bass finding finger on a black key and the modulating finger 12 and the finger 13 adjacent thereto on white keys. kThe device may also be held in a slanted position with the bass finding finger and modulating finger 12 on white keys with the adjacent finger 13 on a black key.

I claim:

1. A manually operated device for playing on the keyboard of .a musical in-strument, comprising a plurality of projecting fingers of different character in a single plane for engaging the keys of said keyboard.

2. A manually operated device for playing on the keyboard of .a musical instrument, comprising a plurality of substantially parallel projecting fingers of differing lengt-hs for engaging the keys of said keyboard.

A manually operated device for playing on the keyboard of a musical instrument, comprising a plurality of fingers projecting in a single plane for engaging the keys of said instrument, one of said fingers being of a different character from the others.

4. A manually operated device .for playing on the keyboard of a musical instrument. comprising -a plurality of fingers projecting in a single plane for engaging the keys of said instrument, one of said fingers being of a different length from the others.

5. A manually operated device for playing on the keyboard of a musical instrument, comprising a comparatively short finger for singly depressing one of the keys of the instrument, and a plurality of longer fingers substantially parallel to said short finger and diiferent therefrom in length for depressing a. plurality oi'keys.

G. A manually operated device for playing on the key board of a musical instrument, comprising a comparatively shortI finger ttor singly depressing one oi the keys ol the instrument to produce the fundamental tone of a chord, and a plurality of comparatively long fingers spaced apart to produce other tones o't the same chord on the keys ot' said keyboard when depressed by said comparatively long lingers.

i". A manually operated device tor playing on the keyboard o'l' a musical instrunient, con'iprising a con'iparatively short linger for singly depressing one oit the keys o't the instrument, and a plurality of con'iparatively long tingers ot substantially the same length, all of said fingers being substantially paralleli 8. A manually operated device `t'or playing on the keyboard of a musical instrument, comprising a comparatively short and a comparativelyr long linger, the two fingers being in a single plane and so spaced apart as to depress two keys of said keyboard to produce tones harmoniously related.

9. A manually operated device for playing on the keyboard of a musical instrument, comprising a comparatively short finger for singly depressing one of the keys ot' said keyboard, and a plurality of groups of fingers for depressing corresponding keys ot the keyboard, all of said lingers being substantially parallel.

10. A manually operated device for playing on the keyboard of a musical instrument, comprising a. comparatively short linger' :tor singly depressing one of' the keys oi the instrument, and a plurality of groups ot tinv gers for depressing corresponding keys of the keyboard,v the lingers ol: each group being spaced apart to produce a desired Inusical interval, all of said lingers being sul stantially parallel.

ll. A manually operated device 'for playing on the keyboard oi a musical instrun'lent, comprising a plurality ot groups ot fingers of different lengths substantially parallel to each other, the several groups being constructed and arranged to depress the keys of the keyboard either successively in groups or simultaneously depending upon the manipulation oit the device.

12. A manually operated device for play ing on the keyboard of a musical instrument, comprising an arm or bar provided with a plurality of substantially parallel fingers of different lengths.

13. A manually operated device for playing on the keyboard of a musical instrument, comprising a. plurality of fingers for depressing the keys of a piano, each linger being provided at its end with a telescoping yielding cap.

14. A manually operated device lor playing on the piano or the like7 comprising a plurality of fingers of diierent lengths projecting in one plane and a single nger projecting in a different plane.

DAVID TALMAGE. 

